Brian Laws the surprise choice to replace Owen Coyle at Burnley

11 January 2010 10:27

Burnley are ready to spring a major surprise by naming Brian Laws as their new manager just a month after he was sacked by Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday.

Laws and Doncaster boss Sean O'Driscoll were the last two men standing in the race for the job on Monday.

Owls about that: Former Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws is set to take over at Burnley

But Sportsmail understands Laws is Burnley's preferred choice to replace Owen Coyle - provided he ties up a compensation deal with Wednesday.

An official announcement is expected in the next 48 hours, with O'Driscoll on standby.

Laws, a former Burnley player, can look forward to kicking off with a dream debut at Manchester United on Saturday as he begins the task of keeping the Premier League newcomers in the top flight.

Leeds boss Simon Grayson and Huddersfield's Lee Clark withdrew from the race yesterday, with Burnley deep in contract talks with their top choice.

The Clarets courted Laws before he joined Wednesday from Scunthorpe just over three years ago, and made a further attempt to land him, before they moved for Coyle in 2007.

O'Driscoll, meanwhile, has proved himself by establishing Doncaster in the Championship on a low budget and his stylish approach has drawn widespread admiration.

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